Accelerating the Future of Youth Entrepreneurship
Venue
Royalton Antigua Resort & Spa
Five Islands, St John's, Antigua
The Summit
Two Days of Impactful Acceleration
16-17 June 2026
Join us in Antigua and Barbuda for the Caribbean Youth Entrepreneurship (CYE) Summit 2026 - a bold, regional-wide gathering designed to ignite possibility, unlock innovation, and accelerate the future of youth-led enterprise across the Caribbean.
This is more than a summit. It is a strategic movement.
CYE 2026 will convene visionary young leaders, ambitious entrepreneurs, investors, policymakers, educators, and ecosystem builders in a powerful forum focused on inspiring ideas into scalable ventures, ambition into structured growth, and potential into measurable impact.
Through inspiring keynotes, immersive workshops, high-energy breakout sessions, collaborative roundtables, and the launch of strategic regional initiatives, the Summit will:
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Strengthen the Caribbean’s youth entrepreneurship ecosystem
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Connect emerging founders with opportunities, mentorship, and markets
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Promote innovation and sustainable enterprise
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Foster cross-border collaboration and intra-Caribbean trade
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Empower the next generation to lead with confidence, resilience, and purpose
CYE 2026 is designed to catalyze an era of youth-driven economic development, where young entrepreneurs are not just participants in the economy but architects of its future.
The Caribbean’s next wave of business leadership begins here.
Be part of the momentum.
Be part of the movement.
Be part of CYE 2026.
CYE Summit 2026 - Helping young people step into a world of opportunity, achievement, and transformative growth
Why This Summit
is Important
In today's rapidly evolving global economy, youth entrepreneurship is crucial for driving innovation, economic growth, and social change. The 2026 Caribbean Youth Entrepreneurship Summit is not just an event; it’s a dynamic thrust aimed at empowering the next generation of visionary business leaders.
This summit will offer young entrepreneurs unique opportunities to network with industry experts, acquire practical skills through hands-on workshops, and access essential resources to transform creative ideas into successful businesses.
By bringing together government leaders, established business professionals, and emerging talents from across the Caribbean, the summit is well poised to establish a strong foundation for a vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem while promoting collaboration, sparking innovation, and paving the way for sustainable, youth-led economic development.
Attendees will leave feeling inspired, equipped with new skills, and ready to create change, not only in their own lives but also within their communities and the broader region.
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Topics
Sessions
Speakers
Expanding Markets... Unlocking Opportunity... Accelerating Youth Enterprise
Creating pathways for young entrepreneurs to transform bold ideas into structured enterprises that fuel growth and lasting impact
"Offering young entrepreneurs unique opportunities to network with industry experts, acquire practical skills through hands-on workshops, and access essential resources that can transform creative ideas into successful businesses"
MEET SOME CYE 2026 SUMMIT SPEAKERS
Inspirational speakers with practical knowledge and experience
Senator Shaquan O'Neil
Senator - Antigua & Barbuda
CARICOM Youth Ambassador
Lisa Harding
Division Chief - Private Sector Division
Caribbean Development Bank
Apostle Dr Stephen Andrews
Senior Pastor
St John's Pentecostal Church
Peta-Gay Rodney
General Manager
St John's Cooperative Credit Union
Jomica Carbon, M.Sc. (Dist.)
Trade Commissioner
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Trade, ANTIGUA
Jerry DaC Blenman
Financial Analyst/ Business Strategist
Executive Director - The CCOE
Karen Richardson
General Manager
Antigua Commercial Bank
Khrystal Riviere
Independent Consultant
Youth Economic Development
Audrey Joachim
Program Director
Conecta Caribbean
Cardelle Fergusson
General Manager
Barbados Youth Business Trust
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Shedron Collins
Chief Executive Officer
Youth Business Trinidad and Tobago,
Senator Philip Rolle
Coordinator
Dominica Youth Business Trust
SNAPSHOT of the CYE 2026 Summit Areas of Dialogue
DAY 1 - Building, Connecting & Igniting Opportunity
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Keynote: Accelerating Youth Entrepreneurship in the Caribbean: National Roles, Responsibilities and Commitments as Eco-builders
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High Level Panel: Building the Caribbean Entrepreneurial Ecosystem: A Roadmap for Success
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Condensed Workshop: The Anatomy of Resilient Entrepreneurship
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Breakout Session 1A: Innovative Business Models for Youth Entrepreneurs
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Breakout Session 1B: Leveraging Technology for Business Growth
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Breakout Session 2A: Building Strong Business Networks
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Breakout Session 2B: Marketing Strategies for Start-Ups
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Panel Discussion: Sports as a Business
DAY 2 - Finance, Sustainability & Scaling
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High Level Panel: Access to Finance & Capital Readiness in the Caribbean
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Breakout Session 3A: Pathways to Sustainable Entrepreneurship
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Breakout Session 3B: Funding Opportunities & Financial Strategy
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Panel Discussion: Scaling Beyond Borders: Regional Trade & Market Expansion
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Masterclass: From Strategy to Execution - Building Systems That Support Scale
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Market Readiness Lab: Stress-Testing Your Business for Regional Expansion
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Closing Panel: Building Enterprises That Endure - Resilience, Risk & Long-Term Growth
Waynika Romney
Coordinator
Anguilla Youth Business Foundation
Fabian Isaac
Entreprenurial Development Coordinator St Lucia Youth Business Trust
Peter Abraham
Director of Debt and Development Finance
Ministry of Finance, Antigua
Dr Byron Andrews
Optometrist
Eye Mobile Vision Care
Mona Gardner
Visionary Trailblazer & Director Antruelle Inc
Amb Melissa Seaforth
Ambassador-at-Large
IFBB Pro Fitness Athlete
Celia Roberts-Morgan
Strategic Business & Leadership Architect
Kareem O J Lee
Operational Excellence Consultant & Strategist
Cherissa Robert-Thomas
Attorney-at Law & PrincipalC. Roberts Thomas & Associates
Julie-Ann Charles
Quantatative Finance and Risk Management Specialist
Jacqueline Blenman
Purchasing Executive
Carlisle Bay Resorts
Alison Beckles
Organizational Psychology, Workforce & Executive Coaching Specialist
Inspiring and equipping young people to be the pioneering business leaders of tomorrow
Accelerating the Future of Youth Entrepreneurship
Building a Caribbean where youth-driven enterprise unlocks opportunity, expands markets, and accelerates growth.
Be part of the
Caribbean Youth Entrepreneurial Summit
Participation is open primarily to young entrepreneurs across the Caribbean. A limited number of scholarships will be available to host-country residents of Antigua and Barbuda. Young entrepreneurs who qualify and are interested in participating in this summit are invited to register their interest on our waitlist (see the button below). You will be contacted thereafter to confirm approval and registration.
All other youth delegates will be required to pay a partially funded registration fee of US$175.00. Registration cost includes participation in the full summit, lunch and refreshment breaks.
Accommodation Information for Overseas Delegates
The Conference Organizing Committee is pleased to advise that preferential accommodation rates have been secured for overseas delegates attending the Caribbean Youth Entrepreneurship (CYE) Summit 2026 at the Royalton Resort and Spa.
This arrangement has been made to ensure delegates can enjoy a comfortable, convenient stay during the Summit, with access to quality amenities and proximity to key activities.
Kindly note that delegates are responsible for making their own accommodation reservations directly with the hotel, as well as for covering the cost of their stay and airfare.
We invite you to click the link below for further details, including booking instructions, applicable rates, and the terms and conditions associated with this arrangement
We encourage early booking by 22 May 2026 to secure availability at the negotiated rates and look forward to welcoming you to Antigua and Barbuda for what promises to be a highly engaging and impactful Summit experience.
Quoted Rates are All-Inclusive (accommodation, breakfast, lunch and dinner)
CYE Summit 2026 Secretariat
The following organizations have been appointed to serve as the official Secretariat for the CYE 2026 Summit:
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Queries & General Administration - Antigua & Barbuda Youth Business Trust
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Overseas and Online Registration and Payment - The Caribbean Center for Organizational Excellence Inc
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Local Delegates Paying by Cheque - C Roberts Thomas & Associates, located on Anchorage Road, St John's, Antigua
For further information, please feel free to contact us at admin@abybt.com
Supporting Organizations
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